Automobile truck



R. S. CLYMEH. AuTomoBlLE ITRUCK. APPLICATON FILED SFPT. 23, 1920.

Patented Sept., 12

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R. S. CLY'MER.

AUTOMOBILE TRUCK. APPLICATION FILEDv SII-9R23, 1920. 1,428,681,PatentedSept. 12, 1922.,

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AUTOMOBILE '.'IIlVEUCILy Application led September 23, 1920. Serial No.412,176. i i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RnUnnN S. CLYMER, a citizen of the United States,residing-at Quakertown, in the county of Bucks and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Automobile Truck, of whichthe following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide novel means whereby anautomobile or other machine may be liftedofl' its wheels, by itsinertia, as the automobile enters a garage or approaches any otherpredetermined place. v v Vithin the scope of whatis claimed, a mechanicmay make changes inthe precise structure shown, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. l y In the drawings Figure 1 shows in sideelevation, a device' constructed in 'accordance with the invention;Figure`2 is a cross section taken through one of the tracks; Figure 3 isa cross` section showing the overlapped ends of the frame barsglfigure 4is a top plan; Figure 5`fis a side elevation showing a modification inone of the jacks.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a 'frame 1 which may beconstructed variously without jeopardizing the utility of the invention.The frame 1 may include side bars 2 connected by a rear `endl bar 3 andIby a forward end 'barl4. It may be desirable to bow the forward end bar4'down, as shown atf5,`to permit the'passage ofthe differential casing,when an automobile approaches the frame 1. The side bars 2 compriserelatively movable parts having overlapped ends 6. Trough-shapedreinforcing` members 7 are secured to the parts ofthe bars as indicatedat 8, the

trough-shaped member on each part of the bar receiving the end 6 of theother part,

to prevent relative lateral movement ybetween the ends 6 of thev'partsofeach bar 2.

p Elongated slots 9 arelfashioned in the ends 6 and register with slots10 in the reinforcing members 7 Clamping devices 11, which may be bolts,are located in the slots 9 and 10. When the clamping devices 11 areloosened, the frame 1 may be lengthened or shortened to accommodatevehicles of different sizes and makes. v

Sockets 12 depend from the side bars 2.

Caster frames 14 are provided, wheels 15 being journaled therein. Thecaster frames 14 have stems 16 rotatable in the sockets 12,

thex stems *being provided with side seats 17 adapted to receive theinnerl ends of set screws 18 threaded into the sockets.

'inclined' tracks 19 are mounted on the forwardV portions of the'sidebars 2 andhave 60 longitudinal passages 20, xthere being rel duced slots21 in the tops ofthetracks, the slots 'communicating with the passages,thus forming T-shaped guideways. Rollers 22 are journaled at their endsin the tracks19 65 and extend across the passages 20'. y Supportsk 23are movablealong the tracks 19.v The supports 23p are in the rform ofjacks, including a base 24 and a movable member 25' having a head 27.The member 25 may 70 be inthe form` of a rack adaptedk tobe operated bya detachable handle 26, al# though the support 23 may embody a jack ofany kind. rlhe base 24 includes a laterally extended foot28 movable inthe passage 20, 75 over therollers 22, the base proper moi/'ing intheslot 21. The rollers 22 of course facilitate the movement of thesupports 23 with respect to theltracks 19. y p

yRear tracks 29A are provided, these tracks 8O being constructed liketheftracks19, the rear ends 30'of the tracks constituting keepers to beyengaged by holding latches, as will be explained hereinafter. Supports31 traverse the tracksl 29, the supports being constructed like thesupports 23, aside fromthe Afact that the heads 32 have upstandingprojections 33. The base portions of the supports 31y andv23 arennitedbya longitudinally adjustable rconnection which may include rods 35 and aturn buckle 36, Latches 37 are pivotedto the base portions of the rearsup-` ports 31` and arev adapted to slide along 'the tr'acks29,retractile springs 33 connecting ther latches with the base portionsofthe supports 31 and sewing to assure an engagement between the latches37 and the keepers 30 at the ends of the tracks 9, when the' supports 31have been thrust rearwardly by the action of the automobile. The bodyportions 24 of the supports 23 may be connected by a tie rod 39, a tierod 40 bearing a like relation to the supports 31.`

In practical operation, the caster frames 14 are rotated until thewheels 15 are disposed at right angles to the length of the frame 17 thewheels being held in the aforesaid position by advancing the set screws18y until the inner ends of the screws are received in the appropriateones of the seats 17. The trame cannot move longitudinally, when thewheels are arranged as above described, it being desirable that theframe shall not advance appreciably when the automobile or other vehicleapproaches the frame. The automobile advances, and the front axleengages the projections 33 of the supports 31, the supports movingupwardly along the tracks 29. Motion is transmitted from the supports 21to the supports 23 by the rods 35 and the turnbuckles 36, the supports23 advancing along the tracks 19. The supports 23 will rise under therear axle casing ot the vehicle, the supports 31 rising under theforward axle. In this way, the vehicle will be elevated,auton'iatically, and the weight will be taken olf the tires of thevehicle. The latches 37 engage with the keepers 30, as the supports 31advance, and, thus, the supports 31'and 23 will be prevented fromsliding backwardly down the tracks and lowering the vehicle.

See Figure 5. The connection 35-36 may be dispensed wit-lnbut under suchcircumstances it will be necessary to provide the head 27 of eachsupport 23 with a projection 11 adapted toengage the rear axle casing.In Figure 5, parts liereinbetore described have been designated bynumerals previous ly used, with the suffix a The set screws 18 may bebacked out of engagement with Jthe stems 16 ot the caster frames 14, andthen the stems can rotate in the sockets 12, the wheels 15 assuming anydesired angle with respect to the length of the frame 1 and permittingthe `tramo and the vehicle thereon to be trundled in any lateraldirection. Further, the jacks or supports 23 and 31 may be pumped up orlet down, thereby permitting the vehicle which is carried by the jacksor supports to be raised or lowered.

An operating means of any kind, such as iexible elements 50, areconnected to the latches 37. When it is desired to lower the vehicle tothe ground. the latches 37 may be disengaged from the keepers 30 bydrawing upon the llexible elements 50, whereupon the supports 31 and 23will slide backwardly and downwardly along the tracks 29 and 19.

rlhe heads 32 of the supports 31 may be provided with latches 75, of anydesired kind, the latches being in the form of xed lugs if preferred.

When the vehicle ad-y vances, the forward axle passes over the parts 75and engages the projections 33, the supports 31 being advanced along thetracks 29. The supports rise beneath the axle, as they are advanced, andthe parts 75 engage behind the axle and render it impossible for theaxle to slide rearwardly off the heads 32. When the supports 31 movedownwardly along the tracks 29, the parts 75 are depressed enough sothat the axle can move rearwardly, over them, after the wheels of thevehicle have come into contact with the ground.

I claim:-

1. ln a device oit the class described, a frame comprising parts whichare relatively adjustable with respect to each other to alter the lengthof the same; means for holding said parts in adjusted positions withrespect to each other; anti-friction devices ixed on the frame forrotation and located in parallel planes inc-lined with respect to thehorizontal; lifting jacks mounted to travel on the anti-frictiondevices, each jack comprising parts connected for relative verticalmovement, and means under the control of an operator Jr`or producingrelative lifting movement between the parts of the jack; alongitudinally adjustable connection between the jacks; a latchpivotally mounted with respect to one jack and cooperating with aportion of the frame to hold the jacks against downward sliding movementon the anti-friction devices; and means for operating the latch from aremote point.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame; an inclined trackthereon; a support slidable on the track and adapted to be advanced bythe thrustof a vehicle; wheels; means for mounting the wheels on the'frame for adjustment with respect to a vertical axis, whereby thewheels may be disposed transversely of the frame, thereby to resist thethrust of the vehicle and means under the controlof an operator forholding the wheels in adjusted positions with respect to a verticalaxis.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN S. CLYMER. Witnesses:

IRvrN M. CONWAY, JOHN DONOVAN.

